Principal Woodland Creation Officer

Overview

Are you passionate about nature‑based solutions and ready to play a leading role in tackling climate change? Join us at Buckinghamshire Council as we continue to make significant strides towards achieving our target of planting 543,000 trees by 2031. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development and delivery of the Bucks Tree Mission, a programme that supports climate resilience, and improves natural capital across Buckinghamshire.

You will work closely with landowners, partners and communities; oversee contractors delivering woodland design, environmental assessments, planting and maintenance; manage budgets and grant funding; ensure compliance with relevant standards, including the UK Forestry Standard and Woodland Carbon Code, and appropriate governance, monitoring and reporting. This is a unique role where your leadership, expertise and creativity will help shape Buckinghamshire’s landscape for generations.

If you are motivated by making a visible, lasting difference and can bring the skills and experience required for the role to drive this programme forward, we would love to hear from you.

This is a secondment/fixed‑term contract opportunity from 27th April 2026 up to 26^th April 2027 (inclusive).

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

The Council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy (2021) outlines 60 actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the Climate Response Team is tasked with helping fulfill commitments set out in this document.

About the role

As Principal Woodland Creation Officer, you will:

• Lead the continued development and delivery of the Bucks Tree Mission, ensuring high‑quality tree planting and woodland creation that aligns with strategic targets.
• Manage woodland creation projects through lifecycle stages, including commissioning and overseeing contractors for design, planting, and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards such as the UK Forestry Standard and Woodland Carbon Code.
• Secure and manage external grant funding, oversee tendering and contract management, and ensure robust financial monitoring.
• Build strong working relationships with external stakeholders including landowners, community groups, and government bodies.
• Provide specialist professional advice internally and externally, including responding to complex enquiries and producing reports.
• Collect, analyse and present performance data.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You will bring:

• Substantial experience in delivering nature‑based solutions to climate change, with a strong track record of delivering woodland creation and/or tree‑planting projects.
• Expert knowledge of woodland and forestry standards, including the UK Forestry Standard, the Woodland Carbon Code, and the ecosystem services provided by trees and woodland.
• Strong project management expertise, demonstrating your ability to deliver complex projects.
• Experience preparing tenders, awarding and managing contracts, and overseeing contractors delivering tree planting and maintenance projects/programmes.
• Experience of partnership working, including representing your organisation externally.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

We typically work two days in the office and the remainder of the week from home.

Interview-type / process: In person at Walton Street Office

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Alexander Beckett, Climate Change & Flood Risk Manager (email: [email protected]; Tel: 01296 382 495)

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/